THURROCK Council says it has slashed the cost of providing a new station for Stanford-le-Hope to almost a quarter of its £36million estimated cost reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
Plans for the new station and transport interchange were announced in 2017 after the former station was demolished but with cost spiralling to £36million the current Labour administration put the scheme on hold earlier this year to re-evaluate it.
The new station and transport interchange was designed to connect bus, rail, cycle, taxi, and pedestrian movement in Stanford-le-Hope and land near the station was purchased to accommodate the interchange.
At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Lee Watson, councillor responsible for good growth, said the budget for a trimmed scheme would be set at £10million, with a £1million contingency fund and £1million funding from the Freeport.
The project will now involve a new station and scrapping the interchange in favour of simple bus turnaround on the road.
Speaking at the meeting, Ms Watson said: “This is a critical project that has long been awaited by residents of Stanford-le-Hope. It’s a legacy project we have had to inherit. This project has faced a series of delays and setbacks since it began in 2017. In quarter two of this year the scheme was formally placed on hold so that a review could be carried out.
“At that point the cost to complete the project was estimated at £21.91 million bringing the total budget to £36million, with £17.6million of that required directly from council investment. That level of spend was not sustainable and could not carry on. Rather than walk away, this administration chose to act.”
Ms Watson said the council was “determined to get this project over the line”. She added: “This is a major shift on the previous unaffordable model and shows our commitment to the financial management of this project .
“After years of frustration and delay, we now have a strategy that is realistic, affordable and deliverable. This administration will not let the people of Stanford-le-Hope down any longer and we are going to move this forward and build a station.”
Ms Watson said the funding would be made available from the capital budget for 2025/26.
Cabinet agreed officers should now enter into contractual agreements to deliver the project and to appoint a contractor to alter the current design. It is hoped the project in partnership with Network Rail and DP World, will improve rail services and travel to the surrounding economic and housing growth areas such as the freeport and logistics park.
